The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-11-26
A REPORT.
The Adventures and Experiences Of . Circus
Manager.

Howl & SHORTS Mighty Allied Circu:
and Menagerie, which recently wen,
into winter quarters in New Jersey:
Yours is at hand and l gladly re.
ply. am pleased to learn that You
intend writing a book on the subject OF
THE Circus and Other Noxious lnstitu-
tions.' and l chccrfully give you all the
Information in my power concerning
our past season.
1--WE are somewhat unfortunate in
several things, M of them being our
elephant. Not knowing the feeling OF
the public on elephants, we started out
with a milk.white. sacred elephant from
Interior India, captured at the usual
great expense and appalling sacrifice
of human life. We had only reached
Johnson's Greek, O., when the white
wash began to flake and rub off, which
neccssitated the application Of two
coats of white paint at considerable
expense. This weathcrcracked and
blistcred some. and when we reached
Poseyville, Ind, the public was wild
for a black elephant, and it took three
coats of dark paint, applied at some
expense, but fortunately no loss of life,
to please 'em. When we reached Illi-
nois, l found by keeping my finger on
the public pulse that l wanted a trick
elephant, and ours was accordingly
trained to stand on a barrel and kick
at the clown. The paint was allowed
to come off gradually, and when we
reached the Mississippi river our elc-
plant showed several square yards Of
black, considerable white, besides q
number of spots Of simple elephant.
'Our orang-outang left Is at Keokuk,
la. going to work on a new livery
stable at that place, carrying a hod.
This forced me to put on his skin
and grab the bars Of the cage and howl
for three hours "A day myself.
"Our mermaid was struck by light
ming at Paris, Mo-, and the sheet-iron
ripped down the back.
''Our lion went OH a strike early in
the season and refused to roar. This
made it necessary for the treasurer,
after he got through selling tickets. to
get down behind the cage and roar for
him, while a canvasman pricd the furi-
GUS beasts mouth open with q picket.
This was satisfactory to the public, but
the treasurer's throat was badly cal
loused.
"An inquisitivc old gentleman at
Atchison, Kan, punched the hump Off
our sacred COW with an umbrella and
the audience used it for a football,
completely running it. The buffalo in
our Wild West show about the same
time got so it would not run for the
cowboys, and the ringmaster was
obliged to go ahead of it with an ear Of
corn. | soon after traded with a man
from Hay Greek township for a buffalo
with a little more spirit.
'During the season we gave 200 per.
.formances; lied about the next per-
formancc 259 times; number of specta-
tors shot by cowboys, 10; number Of
cowboys injured by falling from horses,
10; number of men who attempted to
ride the trick mule in Missouri, "a; in
all other States, l. We escaped with
out paying our license twelve times; the
zebra was restriped four times; the
clown attempted q new joke one
time, which was met with groans
and eggs. Number of questions
asked by spectators, 6 1900, 600;
number Of answers given, A;
number Of answers understood, 0.
The proprietors made disrespectful re-
marks concerning the Interstate Com
MERGE law 875, 600 times. One hundred
and thirty thousand tickets were sold.
1880 complimentaries issued and 11S
Kansas men passed in or recount Of
bringing hay for the elephant. Num-
Der of small boys who paid, 81; number
who crawled under the tent, 1888, ga. |
Number of Iowa men who had sposted
horses they wished to sell, 100.
1--WE have gone into winter quarters
here and now have u agents ransaek-
ing the known earth for curiosities.
Nothing is purchased which is not war;
ranted to howl all summer, rs the
treasurer and myself do not feel that
we could in justice to ourselves or the
public again undertake to conduct the
howl department for the season.
"Our artists will be v~ariously EN-.
ploycd during the winter. Signor
Potts, the bareback rider, and M.
Skinner. the human snake, arc engaged
with a grand double improved "Uncle
Toms Cabin" company, each repre-.
senting Uncle Tom, Signor Potts dying
ut the right Of the stage in the last net,
as usual, and subsequently appearing
to. the audience on the celestial shore.
while NJ. Skinner RECEIVERS on, the Left
and dances = doublc-shuffie and retires
under owe Of a cloud Of dust.
Il think may safely say that tho
prospect for next year is very flatter-
fnp. Wa ono hausr<, u,... I'm !!